The presence of a pool of cells latently infected by HIV-1 in patients taking HAART and with a viral load below 50 copies/mL is the main limitation to eradication of the virus from the body. This viral reservoir prevents antiretroviral therapy from being interrupted; therefore, patients are obliged to continue with treatment for a period calculated to be greater than 60 years.

Despite the important advances in knowledge of the biology of this reservoir, we still have no real knowledge about its dynamics. The opportunity to carry out a clinical trial for the first time with an integrase inhibitor is exceptional, since the results could provide important information on the nature of this reservoir.

If maintenance of the reservoir is a dynamic process, inclusion of an integrase inhibitor is expected to lead to a reduction in the size of this reservoir. This effect could be critical when including IAT (viral reactivation), since, in theory, it would be necessary to act on a smaller reservoir. Current consensus is that it would be necessary to act on almost 100% of the viral reservoir (approximately 1,000,000 cells).

The study has also been designed to enable us to understand the biochemical and molecular mechanisms by which certain drugs can induce viral reactivation in vitro as a previous step to a clinical trial aimed at reactivating viral latency and eradicating HIV-1 from the body.

To evaluate, by means of a clinical trial, the effect of therapy with an integrase inhibitor (Raltegravir) on the cell reservoir of HIV-1 on patients taking HAART [ Time Frame: 12 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Raltegravir (INN), 400 mg tablets, developed and supplied by Merck Sharp & Dohme. A dose of 400 mg will be administered every 12 hours

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

After receiving information on the design and objectives of the study, the possible risks involved, and the fact that they can refuse to collaborate at any time, patients will give their informed consent to participate in the study and agree to provide material for the cellular and molecular studies.

Aged over 18 years.

Chronic HIV infection

Antiretroviral therapy with at least 3 drugs for at least 2 years and with no modifications expected during the study. Antiretroviral drugs can be switched due to intolerance as long as plasma viremia remains controlled.

Understand the objective of the study and be available to make frequent visits to the hospital.

Exclusion Criteria:

Previous failure of antiretroviral therapy, understood as a rebound in viral load that can be detected after having reached undetectable levels. Low-grade increases (<200 copies of HIV RNA/mL) and transitory increases (blips) resolved without modifying antiretroviral therapy are excluded.

Proven resistance against the antiretroviral drugs under study.

Planned interruption of antiretroviral therapy.

Taking immunosuppressive or immunostimulating medication of any type, including valproic acid.

Taking a fusion inhibitor (enfuvirtide).

Pregnancy or intention to become pregnant during the study.

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00807443